How Do You Use A Hydrometer In A Salt Aquarium?
A hydrometer is a required piece of equipment for anyone with a salt water aquarium. This device allows you to determine the specific gravity of your salt water, information that is essential for the health of your fish or reefs. Although a hydrometer is simple enough in concept, using it requires a little bit of expertise. Use a hydrometer with a scale appropriate for your purposes. You’ll want a hydrometer with a specific gravity scale of at least 1.020 to 1.030. At the same time, obtain a hydrometer calibrated to your aquarium’s ideal temperature. For hydrometers used in salt water aquariums, they will generally be calibrated to 75 to 77 degrees F. Add enough water into your tank so that the hydrometer can float freely without touching the sides or bottom of the tank. If you can, heat your water to the temperature at which your hydrometer is calculated. When pouring and mixing, try to prevent the formation of air bubbles in your tank; pour slowly, then stir gently. Lower your hydrom